Leonardo's signature becomes registered trademark. "Protection against unauthorized use."

Leonardo da Vinci ’s signature becomes a registered trademark thanks to a collaboration between Milan’s Veneranda Biblioteca Ambrosiana , which owns the sheet of the Atlantic Codex where the artist’s signature is found, and Lugano-based IBC International Brand Consulting , a specialist in trademark protection. The agreement was strongly desired by the two entities to publicize Leonardo Da Vinci’s authentic signature found on page 1054 of the Codex Atlanticus and the great heritage of the Pinacoteca.

The signature reads “IO, LEONARDO”: this is the trademark that has been registered. Authorizing the licensing of the IO LEONARDO sign means, according to the Ambrosiana and IBC, authorizing the creation of collections inspired by Leonardo, his style and genius and making them precious, unique and exclusive. So those who want to create products inspired by the great artist’s signature will necessarily have to ask for permission since “IO LEONARDO” has become a registered trademark and can only be used with the approval of the Ambrosiana Library. The institute has already made it known that permission will be granted only to make objects of undoubted prestige and beauty that are a manifestation and expression of Leonardo’s greatness.

The licensing companies will have at their disposal not only the IO LEONARDO cipher, but also the inspiration of Leonardo’s original drawings: objects, inventions, machines, designs of projects, and then the drawings of the 60 mathematical solids of De Divina Proportione and the famous vincian knots, the endlessly intertwining games of lines that are the symbol today of eternal love and infinity. “These collections,” according to Ambrosiana, “will directly reach the homes and everyday lives of people who love design, culture, beauty, and art, and this is our goal.” IO LEONARDO is indeed meant to be an expression of Leonardo’s greatness, and the College of Doctors that governs the Ambrosian Library decided to register the sign in order to be able to protect these new collections from counterfeiting and unauthorized use for commercial purposes. For the first time, a museum decides to register a work, or part of a work in this case, to safeguard its artistic heritage, expressing a willingness to disseminate it but also to defend it from those who would like to exploit it in a way that is not in keeping with the importance and value of what it represents.

“Leonardo’s designs,” says Elisabetta Treggiari, CEO of IBC, “are true works of art and his signature itself is a work of art, a drawing, a fluid, modern and elegant line, a sign of authentic design. It will be a valuable element for companies that can read and interpret this expression of Leonardo to characterize and make their collections unique. It is also incredible how modern the design is in a signature from 1478.”

“IO, LEONARDO,” says Monsignor Francesco Braschi, Vice-Prefect and Doctor of the Ambrosian Library, “does not present itself merely as a ’signature,’ but rather as an affirmation, written in his own hand, of his own identity and individuality.”

Leonardo's signature becomes registered trademark. "Protection against unauthorized use."

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